The Realm of Yolmi

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The Realm of Yolmi is a role-playing game published by West Coast Games in 1977.

Contents

Description

The Realm of Yolmi is a science-fiction system with class-and-level rules that covers human characters on a future Earth (soldiers, cyborgs, scientists, and psychics), their skills, experience, equipment, et al. [1] Combat includes both futuristic weaponry and unarmed fighting. [1] The background material covers space travel, galactic trade, alien races (including the evil Yolmi), over 140 creatures, plus starship statistics and combat rules. [1] Character class chosen dictates what skills are available. [1] The game includes combat rules, equipment, and five levels of psionic abilities. [1]

The Realm of Yolmi takes place on a future Earth after a great catastrophe that turned humans more barbaric, and caused animals to mutate, while automatons are allowed to roam. [2] A popular news commentator discovered a form of immortality using drugs and began the religious sect called the Undead of Yolmi (Cronk). [2]

Publication history

The Realm of Yolmi was designed by Ken Black and Marshall Rose, and published by West Coast Games in 1977 as a 116-page book. [1] The book is A4 size and neatly bound in a spiral plastic binder. [2] The second edition was published by Avant-Garde Simulations Perspectives (ASP) in 1978 as a 180-page book. [1]

Reception

The Realm of Yolmi was reviewed by Don Turnbull in White Dwarf #10 (December 1978-January 1979), who gave the book a rating of 2 out of 10, and called the game "in effect, technological D&D". [2] He complained of the game's humor: "The rules are peppered with attempts at humour and what are obviously 'in-jokes.' I wasn't particularly amused, but other readers may find it funnier than I did." [2] He added: "This attempt at light banter rather spoiled the rules for me, though they appear to be complete and comprehensive if you can stomach the unnecessary attempts at wit." [2] Turnbull did note the similarities to the contemporarily-released Gamma World , and suggested that "adherents of that game may find some useful hints within Yolmi". [2]

Dana Holm reviewed The Realm of Yolmi in The Space Gamer No. 21. [3] Holm commented that "Outside of a few nice touches that any new game will have, my impression is that this game is a deliberate spoof on Dungeons & Dragons." [3]

Lawrence Schick felt that the class-and-level system was derived from Dungeons & Dragons , and commented: "What a title - Realm of Yolmi - just kind of rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?" [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 307. ISBN   0-87975-653-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Turnbull, Don (December 1978 – January 1979). "Open Box". White Dwarf (review). Games Workshop (10): 16.
  3. 1 2 Holm, Dana (January–February 1979). "The Realm of Yolmi: a review". The Space Gamer . Metagaming (21): 22.
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